Diagonal toy pieces and their connection

ABSTRACT

A diagonal toy piece for a modular toy building set including an underlying support structure for supporting the diagonal toy piece and other toy pieces. The diagonal toy piece is a generally planar member having a top side and a bottom side, two outside edges having respective outer ends spaced from one another, and a diagonal edge joining the outer ends of the outside edges. For mounting the diagonal toy piece on the underlying support structure, the bottom side of the toy piece has an attachment fitting removably attachable to the support structure. The attachment fitting is preferably spaced from the diagonal edge of the toy piece. The diagonal toy piece can be joined with another, complementary diagonal toy piece via a connector on its diagonal edge which is releasably connectable to a cooperating connector on the complementary diagonal toy piece. The toy building set includes a plurality of generally planar toy pieces mountable on the support structure, including one or more of the diagonal toy pieces or composite toy pieces.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to diagonal toy pieces for toy buildingsets, and their connection. More specifically, the invention relates tocomposite toy pieces formed from connected diagonal toy pieces, and toybuilding sets including such diagonal and composite toy pieces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,530, a portable water pollution model andmethod are disclosed that provide an improved device and method forsimulating water pollution. This invention includes a portable simulatedwatershed model, including a simulated body of water and a simulatedwater pollution source; a simulated water pollutant, placeable onselected portions of the model; a simulated best management practice forpollution minimization, placeable on selected portions of the model; anda fluid dispenser capable of simulating rain over the watershed model.This invention further includes a method for simulating water pollutionincluding providing a portable simulated watershed model, providing asimulated water pollutant, placing the simulated pollutant on selectedportions of the model, providing a simulated best management practice,placing the simulated practice on selected portions of the model, andsimulating rain over the model.

[0003] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,603, a playing structure includes aplurality of playing structure modules connectable together to form anarray having a generally continuous, visually fluid, three-dimensionalplaying surface. Each playing structure module has a reversible top toallow the topography of the playing surface to be changed. The top ofeach playing structure module has a different three-dimensionaltopography on either side thereof. Each playing structure module mayhave a different or the same top. The playing surfaces have a coloredlandscape painted thereon to depict lakes, countryside, roadways etc.and the like. The topography of the playing surfaces and the paintedlandscapes are designed so that certain symmetries exist. In particular,when a plurality of playing structure modules are assembled to form anarray and the tops of the playing structure modules are arranged toprovide a playing surface having a continuous, visually fluid landscape,any one of or all of the tops can be reversed along a diagonal and thelandscape of the resulting playing surface will still be continuous andvisually fluid. This of course increases the number of different playingsurfaces which can be created with the playing structure modules.

[0004] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,478, a modular terrain board is providedhaving a plurality of sections or terrain cell plugs which are held inplace by a baseboard assembly having a corresponding plurality of cellreceiving sections or cells formed therein. The terrain cell plugs canbe easily removed to allow for quick and accurate reconfiguration of theterrain model. The terrain board has means for representing buildings,rivers, lakes, roads, and other topographical features.

[0005] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,267, model terrain accessories that arepositioned for use on the surface of a miniature landscape arefabricated from a permanently flexible material, preferably polyvinylchloride. These flexible accessories are realistically contoured modelsrepresenting roads, streams, stream banks, earthworks, and walls, orsegments thereof. These flexible accessories will conform to changes insurface elevation on any miniature landscape on which they areassembled. The flexible accessories fit together easily in an infinitevariety of individual and group configurations, and can be easilyremoved from the landscape surface and reused when desired.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,900 discloses a puzzle formed of a pluralityof puzzle pieces which, when assembled, create a self-standing,three-dimensional building structure. The puzzle pieces are ofirregular, polygonal shape, but all puzzle pieces are flat, planarblocks. The blocks are releasably interlocked about a common plane withfirst, edgewise, complementary dovetail joints. For interlocking puzzlewalls that are transverse to one another, second, straight U-shape,edgewise, complementary tenon and mortise joints are further providededgewisely of those comer blocks for frictional interlocking. Thus, noseparate pin, bent units or the like are required to anchor the cornerportions of the three-dimensional structure. The self-standing,enclosing structure is continuous, and shows a continuous image on itsexternal face.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,411 discloses a method making anon-repetitive modular design. The design is created by assembling aplurality of substantially identical modules to cover a surface. Eachmodule has the shape of a polygon, especially a regular polygon, such asa square. The design of each module is created in the following manner.First, one selects a set of points, disposed symmetrically around themidpoint of a side of the polygon, and duplicates the same pattern ofpoints for the remaining sides. Then, one connects every pair of pointswith a line, such that the lines so drawn form a pattern which is notsymmetrical around any imaginary straight line joining any pair ofvertices of the polygon. The spaces between lines, or between one ormore lines and one or more sides of the polygon, can be filled in with acolor, or with any other design element. To make the final design, oneprovides a plurality of such modules, and arranges them, with randomorientations, to cover a surface. The design is non-repetitive, and anyorientation of the individual modules will produce a valid design. Theappearance of the design is varied by changing the orientation of one ormore of the modules. In general, the appearance of the overall design isquite different from that of each of the modules. The modules madeaccording to the invention can be used as floor tiles, or they can beotherwise secured permanently to a solid substrate for decorativepurposes.

[0008] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,069, the plug-in building blocks of abuilding set have protruding connecting pins and corresponding matingconnecting sockets. In order that bend-proof trusses can also be built,the building set has single-row connecting bars with two terminal pins,whose spacing from one another amounts to {square root}{square root over(2 )}times an integral multiple of the modulus, and girder elements,which at two bordering side faces each have a single row of pins withmodular spacing and parallel to these side faces each have a projectionset back by the thickness of the connecting bar. In this way, stable,aesthetically appealing trusses can be built with the building set.

[0009] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,322, a toy building set for buildingtree-like models comprises a trunk element and a branch element. Thetrunk element comprises a trunk portion and projecting branches havingcoupling means spaced from the trunk portion. The branch elementcomprises a plurality of connecting bars, at whose ends couplingbushings are provided. These bushings are formed with primary andsecondary coupling means respectively, so that the branch elements maybe interconnected and connected with the trunk elements. Preferably,said bars have additional branching portions whose ends are providedwith bushings similar to the coupling bushings.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,301 discloses a construction set suitable andsafe for children of various ages comprising construction pieces andconnector strips. The construction pieces have a semirigid planarconstruction with opposing major sides which have hook fastener materialdisposed on one side and loop pile fastener material disposed on theother. The fastener materials are of the type which adhere when pressedtogether. An outer border or margin area of the construction pieces iskept free of the fastener materials, to provide a tab or hem forseparating attached pieces. The construction pieces have various shapesand sizes with which many designs and structures may be constructed. Theconnector strips have a similar construction to the construction piecesand are used to join adjacent construction pieces. The sides may includecomplementary colors and patterns.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,181 discloses an educational visual displaysystem for teaching geography in which objects having some geographicalor topographical significance, e.g., states of the Union, may bedetachably affixed and arranged to demonstrate relationship between theobjects. The system includes a primary background surface of iron velvetfabric material to which hook type fasteners may be detachably adhered,a plurality of primary objects having geographical significance andcomprising a soft foam core with a layer of iron velvet fabric on oneside and a plurality of hook type fasteners on the other side, theprimary objects being arrangeable to represent in combination a largergeographical unit, and a plurality of secondary objects each havinggeographical or topographical significance and having hook typefasteners on one side thereof for being detachably affixable to thelayer of iron velvet fabric of the primary objects. The iron velvetfabric and the hook type fasteners function as an attachment pairsimilar to hook and loop fasteners sold under the trade name VELCRO®.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 4,874,176 discloses a three-dimensional puzzleincluding puzzle pieces having discrete surfaces, at least one surfaceof which has a three-dimensional sculpted form whereby the sculptedsurfaces in the aggregate upon assembly of the puzzle form a continuousthree-dimensional pictorial representation. Abutting sides of the puzzlepieces may be interlocking or three-dimensional for conformal abuttingrelation with the sides of opposed puzzle pieces. Filler pieces are alsoprovided underlying the puzzle pieces for elevating the sculptedsurfaces of the puzzle pieces. The puzzle pieces and filler pieces maybe disposed on a base which may have an edge containment wherebynon-interlocking puzzle and filler pieces may be used. The puzzle andfiller pieces may be vertically interlocked against lateral movement andwith respect to the base by projections received in correspondingrecesses.

[0013] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,750, a base for a building set is providedwith coupling studs for mounting building blocks having correspondingcoupling elements. The base is further provided with cavities contouredto receive at least some of the building blocks. The cavities preferablyextend from the side opposite the side provided with the coupling studs.

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,202 discloses a toy building block having onone face thereof at least one row of mechanical coupling pins andopposite thereto mechanical counter-coupling tubes for coupling said toybuilding block to a similar toy building block either with the row ofsaid coupling pins parallel to a corresponding row of coupling pins ofsaid similar block or perpendicular to said corresponding row. The toybuilding block includes first and second current paths connected tofirst and second contact areas respectively designed to establishelectrical connection with first and second contact areas in a similarblock. The first and second contact areas are disposed in first andsecond angular sectors about adjacent coupling pins. The angular sectorsare offset from each other and do not overlap regardless of whether thebuilding block row of coupling pins is parallel or perpendicular to therow of coupling pins of the similar block.

[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,832 discloses a building element of the typewhich contains current-carrying components placed in the electricallyinsulated building block. There are provided at least twocurrent-carrying components with respective contact areas which aremutually- co-axially positioned. The building blocks can be intercoupledmechanically while establishing electrical connection between therespective current rails in the cooperating building elements, withoutany risk of short circuiting between the two current-carryingcomponents, no matter how the building blocks are intercoupledmechanically.

[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,884 discloses a multitude of parts ofthree-dimensional shape have full edges and also edge segments adaptedfor abutment with like edges and edge segments of other parts. The partsadditionally include non-abutting irregular or curved edges which mayrepresent terrain contour lines or the bank of a body of water. Inclinedareas on the parts are adjacent the irregular or curved edges andrepresent sloped terrain which is continuous with like inclined areas onother abutting parts. The inclined area of a part may be dispensed withto provide a vertical surface to simulate an escarpment.

[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,393 discloses a building block having sidewalls and a perpendicular front with two rows of coupling pins on oneside of the front face and counter-coupling tubes on the other side formechanically coupling two building blocks by means of a clamping action.In each row, each second coupling pin has an electrically conductingsurface, while the coupling pins lying between these are electricallyinsulating. One row of conducting pins is displaced in the direction ofthe rows by one coupling pin from the adjacent row. On the other side ofthe front wall a contact bar is arranged which is connected electricallywith the conducting coupling pins of an associated row. The bar has acontact area for producing electrical contact with a row of conductingcoupling pins of an adjacent, coupled building block.

[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,116 discloses a connecting member comprisingan elastically deformable, tubular plug slitted at the ends forinterconnecting pairs of building components, which have coupling holesto receive the ends of the connecting member. Apertures are in the plugwall between the slits. The plug wall is formed with lengthwiseextending clamping wedges between the apertures. The clamping wedgeshave inclined faces which slope towards the ends of the connectingmember and cause the connecting member to be compressed at the centerand be expanded at the ends when it is pressed into a pair of co-axialholes in adjacent building components. The connecting member may inparticular be formed with an annular flange and end beads which fit incorresponding annular grooves in a pair of adjacent components.

[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,400 discloses a three-dimensional toy havinga base member showing a housing development with structural profilemembers mounted thereon which are secured by profile locking elementsfor constructing elevations of roadways, lots and surrounding terrain.The profile members and locking elements also serve as retaining wallsfor soil which, when shaped to conform to the contours of the profilemembers and locking elements and provided with living plants defines thetopography of a living housing development.

[0020] U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,410 discloses a suspension device forslideable and pivotal suspension of a base plate for toy building setsor base boards for visual planning panels. One face of the base plate orboard is provided with rows of coupling studs including a plurality ofstuds uniformly spaced apart in both longitudinal and transversedirections, and the suspension device includes a gripping member havinginwardly projecting guides adapted to slide along the base plate betweena pair of rows of projections and to support the base plate whensuspended on a wall. The device is further provided with a hinge memberpivotally mounted on top of the gripping member, so as to provide forpivotal movements of the base plate relatively to a wall on which thebase plate is mounted by means of the slideable suspension device.

[0021] U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,493 discloses a rotatable element comprisinga base plate and a disc pivotally mounted in a circular aperture in thebase plate. A socket for a pivot on the disc is located at the bottom ofthe plate and is supported thereon by ribs integral with the socket andwith four side walls at the bottom of the base plate. Four identicalapertures in the bottom of the base plate are formed by the socket, theribs and the side walls. Four engagement studs are provided on the topface of the disc and extend beyond the periphery thereof The underfaceof these studs provides for slideable contact with the top face of thebase plate during the rotation of the disc.

[0022] In U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,506, a plurality of parallelepiped blockshaving varying heights, planar sides and a curved upper surface areconnected together by special pin and hole interlocks randomly spaced inpredetermined locations to form a three-dimensional puzzle with at leasta curved upper surface. Two or more puzzles can be made by initiallyassembling the blocks into a polyhedron with six rectangular faces andsawing along a predetermined path to separate the polyhedron intoindividual puzzles.

[0023] In U.S. Pat. No. 3,742,620, there is provided an apparatus fordemonstrating the inter-relationship of a landscape, and the contourlines representing said landscape in two- and three-dimensionalrepresentation. A transparent plate is supported over and free from themodel and contour lines connecting points of the same height on themodel are drawn upon the said plate using a substantially ablativetransfer material, said contour lines are transferred onto transferreceiving material slabs and layers of the material corresponding to thecontour lines are produced by cutting along the contour lines. Thecontour slabs are then stacked upon each other to give athree-dimensional representation of the model. In a furthermodification, the contour slabs are colored in such a manner that atleast adjacent slabs are of a different color. Upon compression of thecontour model by a transparent plate, a two-dimensional contourrepresentation is again visible.

[0024] U.S. Pat. No. 3,667,153 discloses the coupling of twoplate-shaped elements by means of an interlocking arrangement formedalong the edges of the elements. The locking members of one element arein resilient engagement with identical locking members on the otherelement, the thickness of the individual locking members being half thethickness of the element, and the members being staggered alternately toone side and the other of a plane through the center of the edgeparallel to the side faces of the element.

[0025] U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,875 discloses toy building blocks of similarshape but constructed to different modules. The inner protrusions of thesmaller blocks coact with the outer projections of the larger blocks.

[0026] In U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,858, there is provided a plurality ofbuilding elements dimensionally related to conform to a selected scalehaving interlocking socket and beaded joint portions which may beassembled into a wide variety of composite structures including scalemodel buildings. The socket joint portion is slotted for insertion ofthe beaded joint portion and firmly grips the beaded joint portion tohold the elements in particular angular relation while at the same timepermitting substantial forced rotational and sliding movement betweenelements. One of the elements is a flat panel which may be of a varietyof geometric shapes and another of the elements is a connector ofpreselected lengths having plural joint portions arranged in angularspaced relation to one another about a common midpoint.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0027] From one aspect, the present invention provides a diagonal toypiece for a toy building set, preferably a modular toy building setincluding an underlying support structure, or substructure, forsupporting the diagonal toy piece and other toy pieces. The diagonal toypiece is a generally planar member having a top side and a bottom side,first and second outside edges having respective outer ends spaced fromone another, and a diagonal edge joining the outer ends of the first andsecond outside edges. For mounting the diagonal toy piece on anunderlying support structure, the bottom side of the toy piece has atleast one attachment fitting removably attachable to the supportstructure. The attachment fitting is preferably spaced from the diagonaledge of the toy piece.

[0028] The diagonal toy piece can be joined with another, complementarydiagonal toy piece via a connector on its diagonal edge which isreleasably connectable to a cooperating connector on the complementarydiagonal toy piece.

[0029] Preferably, the first and second outside edges of the diagonaltoy piece diverge from one another toward their outer ends. The outsideedges may meet one another at respective inner ends to give the toypiece a generally triangular shape. In embodiments where the diagonaltoy piece is generally triangular, an attachment fitting removablyattachable to the underlying support structure is preferably located atthe apex of the triangle, where the inner ends of the outside edgesmeet.

[0030] It is preferred that the bottom side of the diagonal toy piecehas a further attachment fitting removably attachable to the underlyingsupport structure, whereby the toy piece can be supported on theunderlying support structure at two spaced apart points. The furtherattachment fitting, for example, may be located at the junction of theoutside end of one of the outside edges and the diagonal edge.Advantageously, the further attachment fitting may be spaced from theconnector on the diagonal edge, whereby the attachment fittings and theconnector, in combination, provide three-point support for the diagonaltoy piece, two points of support being provided by the underlyingsupport structure, and the third point of support being provided by acomplementary diagonal toy piece to which the diagonal toy piece isconnected.

[0031] It is particularly preferred that the diagonal toy piece has twoconnectors along its diagonal edge, releasably connectable to respectivecooperating connectors on a complementary toy piece, the two connectorsbeing located one at either end of the diagonal edge. In this way, thediagonal toy piece and the complementary diagonal toy piece can readilyprovide mutual support for one another.

[0032] Whether the diagonal toy piece includes one, two, or even moreconnectors along its diagonal edge, each connector preferably comprisesone of a hook and a socket to releasably engage with the other of a hookand a socket on the complementary diagonal toy piece.

[0033] From another aspect, the invention provides a composite toy pieceincluding a first diagonal toy piece and a second, complementarydiagonal toy piece which can be joined along respective diagonal edgesto form the composite toy piece. Each diagonal toy piece may include oneor more of the features discussed above.

[0034] From further aspects, the invention provides a playing structure,such as a toy building set, including a support structure and aplurality of generally planar toy pieces mountable on the supportstructure, including one or more of the diagonal toy pieces or compositetoy pieces defined above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages ofthis invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomesbetter understood by reference to the following detailed description,when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0036]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a modular toy building setembodying the present invention;

[0037]FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the modular toy buildingset of FIG. 1;

[0038]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a column for use in a latticesupport structure for the modular toy building set of FIG. 1;

[0039]FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a frame that is combined with thecolumn of FIG. 3 to form the lattice support structure for the modulartoy building set of FIG. 1;

[0040]FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a plurality of columns and framessuch as is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, combined to form a portion of latticesupport structure for the modular toy building set of FIG. 1;

[0041]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of two diagonal toy pieces for use inthe modular toy building set of FIG. 1;

[0042]FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a composite toy piece formed byconnecting the two diagonal toy pieces of FIG. 6; and

[0043]FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the composite toy piece of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0044] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of a modular toybuilding set 2 is disclosed that includes a lattice 4, a base 6, aterrain 8, and playing components 10. The base 6 includes tile bases 42supporting an array of tiles 40, including a number of composite tilesaccording to the present invention, as explained in greater detailfurther below.

[0045] Considering the overall structure of the toy building set whenerected to form a landscape (for example as seen in FIG. 1), the lattice4 provides the underlying support structure which supports, and isremovably attachable to, the base 6. In turn, the base 6 supports, andis removably attachable to the playing components 10. The lattice 4 alsosupports, and is removably attachable to the terrain 8. The modularaspects of the lattice 4, the base 6, the terrain 8, and the playingcomponents 10 allows a multitude of different configurations to becreated with the modular toy building set 2 while employing the sameelements of the lattice 4, the base 6, the terrain 8, and playingcomponents 10. The lattice 4, the base 6, the terrain 8, and the playingcomponents 10 are preferably comprised of a synthetic polymer such asacrylonitrilebutadiene styrene (ABS). This synthetic polymer can beextruded or injection molded to form the lattice 4, the base 6, theterrain 8, and the playing components 10.

[0046] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, a column 12 of the lattice 4 is shownin detail. The column 12 is substantially cubic in shape, but preferablyhas a height slightly greater than its width. The column 12 has foursides 14, a top (or upper portion) 16, and a bottom (or lower portion)18. Protrusion connectors 20 are preferably located on the top 16 of thecolumn 12. Additionally, while the protrusion connectors 20 are shown onthe upper end of the top 16 of the column 12, protrusion connectors 20could, instead, be receptive connectors provided that the component towhich the top 16 of the column 12 is to be attached has the appropriatemating fitting thereon. Similarly, as discussed throughout the rest ofthis description, wherever a receptive connector (or converselyprotrusion connector) is mentioned, a protrusion connector (orconversely a receptive connector) can be employed in its stead as longas complementary fittings are present on components to be removablyattached. Bottom (or lower portion) 18 of column 12 preferably has aplurality of receptive connectors on its underside in the sameconfiguration and orientation as the protrusion connectors 20 on the top16 of the column 12. The protrusion connectors 20 on the top 16 and thereceptive connectors on the bottom 18 of the column 12 allow for secure,removable vertical stacking of a plurality of the columns 12, in orderto vary the height of the lattice 4. Receptive connectors also allow forattachment of the column 12 to the center portion and to the corners ofa frame 32 (FIG. 4), as discussed further below. While protrusionconnectors 20 on top 16 of column 12 are substantially clover leaf inshape in FIGS. 3 and 5, the protrusion connectors discussed herein, aswell as the receptive connectors, can be of any shape that providesremovable attachment of two components with a secure connection whenattached.

[0047] Next, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the frame 32 is shown. Frame 32is preferably parallelogram in shape with four outer walls 33 that formbeams between adjacent corners, and is more preferably polyomino inshape and most preferably a square. A polyomino is a shape formed byconnecting squares. These shapes permit multiple connecting patterns forthe columns and the frames, permitting some columns to be skipped sothat a roadway or other features can be added between columns, and theframes and columns will continue their regular repeating pattern. Thearrangement thus gives the broadest amount of arrangements of thestructures. By providing a plurality of frames, some of the frames ofwhich are a polyomino of at least one more square in dimension thanother of frames in said plurality, a user of the modular toy buildingset 2 can form wider openings under the terrain 8 for receiving roadwaysor other items. For example, the road frames 35, 37 shown in FIG. 2 areeither two times the size of the regular frames 32 (road frames 35 aretwo squares), or four times the size (road frames 37 are four squares).Some frames, because of the arrangement of the squares in the polyomino,may have more than four corners. For example, a three square polyominocould be in the shape of an “L”.

[0048] The four corners 34 of frame 32 each have a protrusion connector36 thereon. Intersecting stabilizing beams 38 interconnect oppositecomers 34. A center portion 39 is located at the intersection of thestabilizing beams 38 and preferably includes four clover leaf-shapedprotrusion connectors 40. A single clover leafshaped protrusion in eachcomer 34 forms a protrusion connector 36. The diameter of the protrusionconnector 36 is slightly greater than that of a receptive connector 26of the lower portion 18 of the column 12 of FIG. 3, for removable snapfitting of the column 12 of FIG. 3 with the frame 32 of FIG. 4, as shownin FIG. 5.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 5, each column 12 can be attached to a centerportion 39 of a frame 32 by snap fitting of receptive connectors on thelower portion 18 of the column 12 into the protrusion connectors 40 ofthe center portion 39 of the frame 32. Alternatively, the column 12 canbe secured to up to four adjacent frames 32 by snap fitting one of thefour receptive connectors on the lower portion 18 of the column 12 withone of the protrusion connectors 36 on a corner 34 of four differentframes 32. One of the columns 12 can also be attached on top of anothercolumn 12 by snap fitting one of the receptive connectors on the bottomof one of the columns onto the protrusion connector on top of anothercolumn. In this manner, the columns can be stacked to form a structureof a lattice 4 having a desired height.

[0050] The above-described modular columns 12 and frame 32, havingvarying heights and lengths, and facilitating both horizontal andvertical interconnection, allow for a multitude of latticeconfigurations having individual components orthogonally disposed withrespect to each other. The resulting lattice 4 can thus provide an arrayof attachment nodes, provided by the upper portions of the columns 12and/or the frames 32, to which the base 6 and/or the terrain 8 can beattached. In the preferred embodiments, these attachment nodes coincidewith nodes of a regular orthogonal grid, preferably having polyominoshape grid elements, most preferably square grid elements.

[0051] As can be best seen in FIG. 1, the base 6 provides the playingsurface for the playing components 10, and is formed from an array oftiles 40 supported on tile bases 42, which in turn are supported on thelattice 4. Each tile base 42 has, on its underside, attachment fittingsmatable with attachment fittings on the attachment nodes of theunderlying supporting lattice 4, to securely hold the tile bases inplace. In turn, the tiles 40 may have attachment fittings on theirunderside matable with attachment fittings on a top side of the tilebases. Additionally or alternatively, the tiles 40 themselves may haveattachment fittings on their underside matable with attachment fittingson the attachment nodes of the lattice 4, in order that they may bedirectly attached to and supported on the lattice 4.

[0052] The tile bases 42, and the tiles 40, especially if directlymounted on the lattice 4, are preferably polyomino in shape, based onthe same orthogonal, preferably square, grid elements as the attachmentnodes of the lattice 4, so that they may be supported on four of theattachment nodes. In this way, in addition to providing excellentsupport for the base 6, a great deal of flexibility is possible in theplacement of the tiles 40 and tile bases 42 on the underlying lattice 4.For instance, many if not all of the tiles and associated tile bases maybe interchangeable with one another to provide a great variety ofdesigns of the playing surface whilst utilizing the same components.

[0053] A tile 40 supported on a tile base can cover all of the top ofthe tile base 42, for example when the tile 40 is to portray a sectionof grass, earth, water, or pavement that has a unitary depth. However,when a varied depth is desired, such as when a road, street, river bank,or lake shore is being portrayed, as shown in FIG. 1, tile 40 a cancover only a portion of tile base 42 on which it is supported, such thattile 40 a can portray a sidewalk, green belt, river bank, or lake edgehaving a height greater than the street, road, river, or lake depictedby the exposed portion of tile base 42.

[0054] The tiles 40 can have patterns thereon, affixed by printing,painting, contrast plastic molding, photolithography or other methodsknown in the art. The patterns on patterned tiles 40 can represent, forexample, sidewalks, paths, or roadways. Rotation of patterned tiles 40in their horizontal plane on tile bases 42, or on the underlying lattice4 when the tiles are mounted directly on the lattice, allows patternedtiles 40 to depict a multitude of different configurations of sidewalks,paths, or roadways.

[0055] In the example illustrated in the FIGURES, a majority of thetiles 40 are formed in one piece and each present a consistentappearance on their upper surface. That is to say, each of these regulartiles is either a sidewalk-tile, a grass-tile, or has some otherconsistent surface configuration. However, to provide more flexibilityto the configuration of the playing surface of the toy building set, anumber of tiles are composite tiles 50 a, 50 b formed from twodetachably connected diagonal tile pieces, described in more detailbelow. Diagonal tile pieces of a number of varied surface configurationsmay be provided with the toy building set, each being detachablyconnectable to any other diagonal piece. Since the two diagonal tilepieces of each composite toy piece may have different surfaceconfigurations, the use of composite tiles formed from a selected two ofthe diagonal pieces enables an even greater variety in design of thesurface of a landscape built using the components of the toy buildingset.

[0056] For instance, as seen in FIG. 1, four composite tiles 50 a can bearranged in a square to simulate a pond in the playing surface which hasits banks skewed, in this example 45 degrees, relative to the edges ofthe regular tiles. This is accomplished by selecting as one half of eachcomposite tile, a diagonal tile piece 52 a designed to simulate water,and as the other half a diagonal tile piece 54 a designed to simulategrass, paving or the like, to represent the bank of the pond. Othernonaligned features can be included in the toy structure, in a similarway, by appropriate selection of the diagonal tile pieces making up eachcomposite tile.

[0057] A further use for a composite tile is illustrated at the base ofthe terrain feature 8 in FIG. 1. Here, composite tiles 50 b are used toavoid the necessity of having the lower edge of the terrain follow thestrict, orthogonal grid provided by the underlying support structure.One half of the composite tile 50 b is a diagonal tile piece 52 bselected to present a surface pattern, such as water, grass or the like,whereas the diagonal tile piece 54 b forming the other half of thecomposite tile has a top surface carrying protrusion connectors 56 towhich the terrain 8, or indeed any other building component havingsuitable mating attachment fittings, may be attached. In this way, thebase of the hill formed by the terrain 8 is able to cut diagonallyacross the regular, orthogonal grid of attachment nodes provided by theunderlying lattice 4, generating a more pleasing appearance.

[0058] An exemplary composite tile 50 is described in greater detailwith reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. The composite tile 50 is formed fromtwo diagonal tile pieces 52,54. As seen most clearly in FIG. 6, eachdiagonal tile piece 52,54 is generally triangular in shape, morespecifically taking the form of a right-angled isosceles triangle in thepresent example. Thus, each diagonal tile piece has two straight,outside edges 56 of substantially equal length, which extendperpendicularly to one another and meet at respective inner ends at theright-angled apex 58 of the diagonal tile piece. Respective outer ends60 of the two outside edges 56 are joined by a straight, diagonal edge62, forming the hypotenuse of the triangle opposite the rightangled apex58.

[0059] On the underside 64 of each diagonal tile piece 52,54, twoattachment fittings 66 are provided, each attachment fitting 66 beingremovably attachable to a mating attachment fitting on a respectiveattachment node of the underlying lattice support structure 4 of the toybuilding set 2, or on an underlying tile base 42. On each diagonal tilepiece 52,54, one of the attachment fittings 66 a is formed at therightangled apex 58, where the two outside edges 56 meet. The otherattachment fitting 66 b is formed at the junction of one of the outsideedges 56 a and the diagonal edge 62 (at the left-hand end of thediagonal edge 62 of the rear diagonal tile 54, and the right-hand end ofthe diagonal edge 66 of the front diagonal tile 52 as seen in FIGS. 6and 7).

[0060] In the preferred form described here, the attachment fittings 66of the diagonal tile pieces 52,54 take the form of receptive connectorsengageable with the clover leaf protrusion connectors 20,36 on the upperportions 16 of columns 12 and/or the corners 34 of the frames 32 of thelattice 4. Specifically, in the example illustrated, the receptiveconnectors are square receptacles, providing a snap-fit with the cloverleaf protrusion connectors. However, any suitably mating connectors maybe used.

[0061] To accommodate the receptive connector at the junction betweenthe diagonal edge 62 and the outer end 60 of the one outside edge 56,the triangular shape of the diagonal tile piece is extended at thatjunction to form a square comer block 70. At the other end 72 of thediagonal edge 62, where the diagonal edge 62 meets the opposite outsideedge 56, the triangular shape of each diagonal tile piece 52,54 istruncated, to be complementary in shape to the square comer block 70. Inthis way, when the two diagonal tile pieces 52,54 are brought together,with their respective diagonal edges 62 butted face to face, to form thecomposite tile 50, the square corner block 70 of each diagonal tilepiece 52,54 interlocks with the truncated corner of the opposingdiagonal tile 54,52 to give the composite tile 50 a continuous squareperimeter edge, as seen in FIG. 7.

[0062] The two diagonal tile pieces 52,54 are joined to form thecomposite tile 50 by cooperating connectors 76,78, located one at eitherend of the diagonal edge 62 of each diagonal tile piece 52,54. Any of anumber of cooperating connector constructions may be used to secure thisconnection. The exemplary connector arrangement illustrated is a hook 76and socket 78 connector. More particularly, the square corner block 70of each diagonal tile piece 52,54 has a D-shape extension 80 adjacentthe diagonal edge 62, forming a receptive socket 78 between an edge 82of the square comer block 70, a portion of the diagonal edge 62, and theD-shape extension 80. The top surface of the D-shape extension 80 isstepped down below the upper surface 84 of the tile piece 52,54, toprovide a shoulder 86. The complementary, truncated corner 72 of eachdiagonal tile piece 52,54 has an undercut 88 which compliments theshoulder 86 provided by the D-shaped extension 80, and a tongue 90 whichdepends downwardly from the outer end of the undercut 88 to form a hookconnector 76 engageable in the socket 78 formed by the D-shape extension80.

[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the two diagonal tile pieces 52,54 canbe connected with one another by aligning the respective hook 76 andsocket 78 connectors at either end of their respective diagonal edges62, with the two tiles slightly skewed relative to one another so thatthe diagonal edges 62 can be butted against one another with the hook 76on each tile piece 52,54 clear of its respective socket 78 on the othertile piece 54,52, and then twisting the tile pieces 52,54 relative toone another (as indicated by arrows 92) to bring them into the sameplane and hence bring the respective hooks 76 and sockets 78 intoengagement with one another, to securely, but detachably, connect thetwo diagonal tile pieces and form a square composite tile 50.

[0064] As can best be seen in FIG. 8, when mounted on the underlyingsupport structure, whether it be a lattice 4, tile base 42 or otherstructure, with the described arrangement of attachment fittings andconnectors, each diagonal tile piece 52,54 can be supported at threepoints: at two points where the attachment fittings 66 a, 66 b on itsunderside 64 are supported by the underlying support structure 4, and atits truncated comer 72 where the hook connector 76 is supported by thesocket connector 78 of the adjacent diagonal tile piece of the compositetile 50. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the socket 78 is connected to theopening for the attachment fitting 66 b. When the tongue 90 of the hookconnector 46 extends into the socket 78, the hook connector 76 becomes aportion of the side wall of the attachment fitting 66 b. A protrusionconnector 36 extends into the attachment fitting 66 b, and frictionallyengages three walls of the attachment fitting 66 b and the hookconnector 76. In this manner, the protrusion connector 36 helps to keepthe diagonal tile pieces 52, 54 attached to form the composite tile 50.This connection can provide a very stable support for each diagonal tilepiece 52,54, and hence the overall composite tile 50.

[0065] As discussed above, an advantage when using the diagonal tilepieces 52,54 of the present invention to form composite tiles 50, isthat it is possible to provide a number of different diagonal tilepieces 52,54 with a variety of upper surface 84 configurations. Thisenables the formation of composite tiles with different, selectedsurface configurations on the two halves. For example, the compositetile 50 illustrated in FIG. 7 includes one diagonal tile piece 52 havinga plane top surface 84 a, and the other diagonal tile piece 54 isprovided with a series of protrusion connectors 96 on its top surface98, for attachment to a further tile piece, terrain piece 8, or othercomponent of the playing structure overlying it and having appropriatemating attachment fittings. Since the rear tile piece 54, as seen inFIGS. 6 and 7 is intended to be covered by a further component, such asterrain 8, it can have a frame-like form as shown, without detractingfrom the aesthetic appearance of the completed toy landscape.

[0066] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has beenillustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changescan be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention, as defined in the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A diagonal toy piece fora playing structure, the toy piece comprising: a generally planar memberhaving a top side and a bottom side, two outside edges having respectiveouter ends spaced from one another, and a diagonal edge joining theouter ends of the outside edges; the bottom side having an attachmentfitting spaced from the diagonal edge and removably attachable to anunderlying support structure of the playing structure; and the diagonaledge having a connector associated therewith detachably connectable to acooperating connector on a complementary diagonal toy piece.
 2. Thediagonal toy piece of claim 1, wherein the first and second outsideedges diverge from one another towards their outer ends.
 3. The diagonaltoy piece of claim 2, wherein the outside edges meet one another atrespective inner ends, whereby the toy piece is generally triangular inshape.
 4. The diagonal toy piece of claim 3, wherein the at least oneattachment fitting on the bottom side of the generally planar member islocated at the junction of the inner ends of the outside edges.
 5. Thediagonal toy piece of claim 4, comprising a further attachment fittingon the bottom side of the generally planar member, the furtherattachment fitting being removably attachable to the underlying supportstructure and being located at the junction of the outside end of one ofthe outside edges and the diagonal edge.
 6. The diagonal toy piece ofclaim 1, comprising a further attachment fitting on the bottom side ofthe generally planar member removably attachable to the underlyingsupport structure of the playing structure and being located adjacentthe connector associated with the diagonal edge.
 7. The diagonal toypiece of claim 1, comprising two connectors associated with the diagonaledge, each connector detachably connectable to a respective cooperatingconnector on a complementary diagonal toy piece, the two connectorsbeing located one at either end of the diagonal edge.
 8. The diagonaltoy piece of claim 7, comprising a further attachment fitting on thebottom side of the generally planar member, the further attachmentfitting being removably attachable to the underlying support structureof the playing structure, and being located at the junction of the outerend of one of the outside edges and the diagonal edge, adjacent one ofthe connectors.
 9. The diagonal toy piece of claim 1, wherein theconnector associated with the diagonal edge is one of a hook and asocket to connectably engage with the other of a hook and a socket onthe complementary diagonal toy piece.
 10. The diagonal toy piece ofclaim 9, comprising two connectors associated with the diagonal edge,each connector detachably connectable to a respective one of twocooperating connectors on a complementary diagonal toy piece, theconnectors being located at respective opposite ends of the diagonaledge, one of the connectors being a hook and the other of the connectorsbeing a socket to connectably engage respective cooperating socket andhook connectors on the complementary diagonal toy piece.
 11. Thediagonal toy piece of claim 10, comprising a further attachment fittingon the bottom side of the generally planar member removably attachableto the underlying support structure of the playing structure, thefurther attachment fitting being located adjacent the socket connectoron the diagonal edge.
 12. The diagonal toy piece of claim 1, wherein theshape of the generally planar member is based on a regular polygonalgrid element, the first and second outside edges coinciding with tworespective diverging sides of the grid element, and the diagonal edgeextending across the grid element.
 13. The diagonal toy piece of claim12, wherein the grid element on which the shape of the generally planarmember is based is a polyomino.
 14. The diagonal toy piece of claim 13,wherein the grid element is a square.
 15. A composite toy piece for aplaying structure, comprising: a first diagonal toy piece comprising afirst generally planar member having a top side and a bottom side, thebottom side of the first planar member having an attachment fittingremovably attachable to an underlying support structure of the playingstructure; a second, complementary diagonal toy piece comprising asecond generally planar member having a top side and a bottom side, thebottom side of the second planar member having an attachment fittingremovably attachable to the underlying support structure of the playingstructure; the first and second planar members having respective firstand second complementary diagonal edges buttable against one another toform the composite toy piece; and at least one connector on the diagonalface of each diagonal toy piece, respective connectors on the first andsecond diagonal toy pieces cooperating to releasably connect the firstand second toy pieces together with their abutment edges butted againstone another.
 16. The composite toy piece of claim 15, wherein the topside of the first diagonal toy piece and the top side of the second,complementary diagonal toy piece have different surface configurations.17. The composite toy piece of claim 15, wherein each diagonal toy piecehas two outside edges which diverge from one another toward respectiveouter ends of the outside edges, the diagonal edge of each diagonal toypiece joining the outer ends of the outside edges.
 18. The composite toypiece of claim 17, wherein the outside edges of each diagonal toy piecemeet one another at respective inner ends, whereby each diagonal toypiece is generally triangular in shape, the diagonal toy pieces being ofthe same dimensions, whereby the composite toy piece is square.
 19. Thecomposite toy piece of claim 18, wherein the attachment fitting on thebottom side of each diagonal toy piece is located at the junction of theinner ends of the first and second outside edges.
 20. The composite toypiece of claim 15, comprising a further attachment fitting on the bottomside of each diagonal toy piece, each further attachment fitting beingreleasably attachable to the underlying support structure and beinglocated at the junction of the outside end of one of the outside edgesand the diagonal edge of the respective diagonal toy piece, the furtherattachment fitting on one diagonal toy piece being located at theopposite end of the abutted diagonal edges to the further attachmentfitting on the other diagonal toy piece.
 21. The composite toy piece ofclaim 15, wherein each diagonal toy piece comprises two connectorsassociated with its diagonal edge, one at either end of the diagonaledge, the connectors of one diagonal toy piece being releasablyconnectable to the connectors of the other diagonal toy piece.
 22. Thecomposite toy piece of claim 21, wherein respective pairs of engagedconnectors on the diagonal edges comprise a hook on one of the diagonaltoy pieces and a socket on the other diagonal toy piece, the hook andsocket being engageable with one another to connect the two diagonalpieces.
 23. The composite toy piece of claim 22, wherein the connectorson the diagonal edge of each diagonal toy piece comprise a hookconnector at one end of the diagonal edge and a socket connector at theother end of the diagonal edge.
 24. The composite toy piece of claim 15,wherein the shape of each diagonal toy piece is based on a regularpolygonal grid element, the first and second outside edges of eachdiagonal toy piece coinciding with respective diverging sides of thegrid element, and the diagonal edge of each diagonal toy piece extendingacross the grid element, when connected to form the composite toy piece,the two diagonal toy pieces together coinciding with a complete gridelement.
 25. The composite toy piece of claim 24, wherein the gridelement is a polyomino.
 26. The composite toy piece of claim 24, whereinthe grid element is a square.
 27. A diagonal toy piece for a playingstructure, the toy piece comprising: a generally planar member having atop side and a bottom side, and generally triangular in shape with twoorthogonal outside edges of substantially equal length which meet atrespective inner ends and having respective outer ends spaced from oneanother, and a diagonal edge joining the outer ends of the outsideedges; the bottom side having two attachment fittings removablyattachable to an underlying support structure of the playing structure,one of the attachment fittings located at the junction of the inner endsof the outside edges, and the other attachment fitting located at thejunction of one of the outside edges and the diagonal edge; and thediagonal edge having two connectors associated therewith, one of theconnectors being a socket connector located adjacent the attachmentfitting at the junction of said one of the outside edges and thediagonal edge, and the other connector being a hook connector located atthe other end of the diagonal edge, the socket and hook connectors beingreleasably connectable to respective mating hook and socket connectorson a complementary diagonal toy piece.
 28. A composite toy piececomprising two diagonal toy pieces according to claim 27 connected toone another with their respective diagonal edges butted against oneanother and respective hook a socket connectors engaged, one of thediagonal toy pieces having a surface on its top side with aconfiguration different from a configuration of a surface on the topside of the other diagonal toy piece.
 29. A playing structurecomprising: a support structure; and a plurality of generally planar toypieces, each toy piece having a top side and a bottom side, and at leastone attachment fitting on the bottom side of each toy piece forattachment to the support structure; at least one of the toy piecesbeing a composite toy piece comprising: a first diagonal toy pieceincluding a first generally planar member having a top side and a bottomside, the bottom side of the first planar member having at least oneattachment fitting removably attachable to an underlying supportstructure of the playing structure; a second, complementary diagonal toypiece including a second generally planar member having a top side and abottom side, the bottom side of the second planar member having at leastone attachment fitting removably attachable to the underlying supportstructure of the playing structure; the first and second planar membershaving respective first and second complementary diagonal edges buttableagainst one another to form the composite toy piece; and at least oneconnector on the abutment face of each diagonal toy piece, respectiveconnectors on the first and second toy pieces cooperating to releasablyconnect the first and second toy pieces together with their abutmentedges butted against one another.
 30. The playing structure of claim 29,wherein the generally planar toy pieces are polygonal in shape, each onecorresponding in shape to a polygonal grid element of a regularpolygonal grid, the outside edges of each diagonal toy piece coincidingwith sides of a respective one of the polygonal grid elements of theregular polygonal grid, and the diagonal edge of each diagonal toy pieceextending across the respective polygonal grid element.
 31. The playingstructure of claim 30, wherein the support structure has a plurality ofattachment nodes arranged to coincide with the nodes of the regularpolygonal grid, each attachment node having at least one attachmentfitting thereon for attachment to a corresponding attachment fitting onthe bottom side of a toy piece.
 32. The playing structure of claim 31,wherein the grid element of the regular polygonal grid are polyominos.33. The playing structure of claim 32, wherein the grid elements aresquare.